5 Reasons Why Being Laid Off Can Be Your Best Career Move 👀
Here’s a “layoff survival guide” for anyone currently living in job uncertainty and trying to find the silver lining during these challenging times. TL:DR, it could be a good thing.
The first notification I saw on my phone a couple days ago was this Business Insider article— “The full list of major US companies slashing staff this year”
And I thought to myself, “f*ck, can this time get any more uncertain?”
I begrudgingly sat down to do my usual morning meditation practice to try and center myself.
In silence I connected to a familiar feeling—fear. Job uncertainty is something I know a lot about.
I’m a Millennial who entered the workforce in the 2008 recession, a former performer who went from gig to gig, and who’s worked at start ups now for the past 14 years.
I’m remembering the fear I felt in each of those life phases.
Several times not knowing how I was going to pay my bills the next month. Wracking up credit card debt. Feeling shame about how “behind” I felt compared to the people around me. Going as far as to believe there was something wrong with me.
In this meditation (can you tell I think a lot when I’m trying not to?), I remember a quote I loved reading years ago by Ernest Hemingway:
"The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places."
This inspired me to explore the ways getting laid off could be a blessing.
5 reasons surfaced for me, so I’m going to share them with you today in hopes that if you have recently experienced this or are afraid of experiencing it, you will also see the possibilities that come along with it, too.
Here are the 5 reasons:
1. Building Resilience
Chaos and fear of uncertainty are both powerful tools to catalyze growth and bring us closer to who we’re meant to be.
When experiencing such heightened levels of chaos and uncertainty you have two options:
Let it shatter you
Use it as a transformative power to build your resilience
Transformation requires a period of disruption. It's in the breaking that we are reshaped, and molded into something new and powerful. The phoenix rising.
A layoff can be a wake-up call, prompting you to tap into your inner resilience and resourcefulness. This period of transition can give you the tools and confidence to navigate life's uncertainties with greater adaptability and strength.
As a law of the universe, when we lean into the opportunity to transform, we are rewarded. When we don’t, we stay where we are for the lesson to surface again until we do.
That’s called karma.
2. Forced Pause = A time to reset
Whether you wanted this to happen or not, it is a chance to step off the hamster wheel and reconnect with yourself, and what you want.
Whether you can financially survive 2 weeks, 2 months or 2 years, take the time to rest and reset, understanding it's an investment in where you go next.
Go on walks, stare at some flowers, appreciate that you are alive and trust that everything is going to be ok because you have been through something challenging before and you navigated it before to get you here.
I took up yoga in my early twenties when I was anxiously in between jobs and still to this day, I can walk into a class an anxious mess, and one hour later walk out feeling centered, calm and at ease.
During your reflection time explore questions like these:
What truly matters to me?
What are my values and aspirations?
What do I desire in the next chapter of my life?
3. A Creative Playground
Free from the constraints of a job that potentially no longer inspires, creativity can flourish. This is a time to discover what you’re passionate about. Sure you can write, paint, take a class, cook some meals, but you can also allow your creative mind to solve this new big question of what comes next for you.
In 2014, I was ready to move on from the career I’d had for years as a matchmaker. I knew I enjoyed having deep conversations with people and making connections for them, designing experiences and coming up with creative ways to reach more people, but I had no idea what job that would be.
I was offered a few gigs during this time, and if I had allowed myself to be in fear, I would have taken them and wouldn’t be here writing this right now.
Instead, I gave myself 2 months to do what I love — talk to people. People I admire and respect. I learned about the path they took to get to where they are, I invited in reflections on me and advice they had to offer.
Two months later I was starting a new job with a title I made up at the time: Head of Community. The founder brought me in to do what I do best: make everyone feel seen, heard, loved and appreciated. That was literally on my job description we wrote together.
Today, this is actually a role people hire for and something I am very proud to have played a part in creating.
The point here is that you are the only you.
There is no one else out there that has the same DNA, upbringing or set of experiences you’ve accumulated up until now. In the sea of what makes you you, there is wisdom waiting to be unlocked for what comes next.
Get really specific and creative, and you might have the same opportunity to create your dream role from scratch, like I did.
4. Self-love Test
Why does rejection hurt so much?
I left behind a career as a performer because I couldn't cope with the constant rejection. During that time, my self-esteem was extremely low, and I didn't recognize my own value. I didn’t love myself.
The self-love journey isn’t an easy one, but when you love yourself, the world opens up to you in new and profound ways. You become a magnet for things that bring you joy.
When I work with people now who are struggling with the environment they’re in, work or relationships, I know what they’re really struggling with is self-love.
If you’re currently experiencing rejection, love this part of yourself. It’s this younger part that’s experiencing a painful feeling that’s familiar to you. Don’t shun it or shame it. Welcome it, love it, hold space for it, and nurture it.
I promise you, new opportunities are waiting for you on the other side of this self-love lesson.
Being laid off falls pretty high on the self-love test scale. It's a time where limiting beliefs of enoughness and imposter syndrome can creep in. My invitation here is to love those parts of yourself, and refocus your energy on your unique passions and creativity.
5. Building Your Dream
I’ll start off by saying that I don’t think entrepreneurship is for everyone.
As I approach my 7th year on this journey, I can say that it has been one of the most challenging and loneliest periods of my life. There is nothing like the personal growth that comes with starting your own business. It forces you to confront the things you have been avoiding because suddenly there is no place to hide.
Ok, now if sharing that didn’t just scare you off, you might be ready for it. 😅
And getting let go of a job is the perfect catalyst for unleashing your entrepreneurial spirit.
As an example — 2020 was a record year for new business formation. “Pandemic entrepreneurs” started 4.4 million+ new businesses in the US during this time — the highest total on record.
So, if this calls to you but you feel afraid, ask yourself what you’re afraid of and solve from there.
Loneliness? Join a founder’s community for support.
Motivation or focus? Hire an affordable coach to help you with mindset, planning and accountability (Liminal plug ☺️)
Not ready? Find a mentor who will agree to talk with you 1 hour a month.
Money? Honestly, who isn’t afraid of money right now? With the job market as it is, there’s not a whole lot of security in corporate America either.
Don’t have all the skills to be successful? This really isn’t an excuse anymore with all the AI tools out there today. Bard or ChatGPT really can answer just about any question you have.
I hope one of these reasons resonates with you or sparks excitement in the unknown, liminal space you might be navigating right now.
One of the greatest responses you can have to uncertainty is confidence. Confidence in yourself, in your life, and in the things that are completely out of your control.
And if you find yourself trapped in a never-ending worry cycle answer this question honestly — what is worrying doing for you?
Practicing self-love,
Ashley
P.S. I’m going to take my own advice and pause this newsletter for the next two weeks for a little rest & reset. I look forward to connecting with you again in 2024. If you have feedback for me, or requests on what I share weekly, please shoot me an email: ashley@stayliminal.com. It would mean a lot to hear from you.
